Magny-Cours, Race 2 Vandoorne … and a 4th time!

At Magny-Cours, the protagonists of the day before have not changed but this time it’s the leader of the Championship who imposes himself. Stoffel Vandoorne made the Belgian Anthem echo for the fourth time of the season and therefore guarantees his position of leader. Franck Matelli climbs onto the second step of the podium – provisionally – followed by Mathieu Jaminet who, for the moment, remains the youngest best driver of the promotion!

For the very first time, Alexandre Mantovani takes off in pole position next to the leader of the previous day: Franck Matelli. In second line of the starting grid, Mathieu Jaminet and the leader of the Championship Stoffel Vandoorne present themselves followed by Paul Lanchere and Jean-Baptiste Lahaye. All of them were able to pocket points yesterday, all but Paul Lanchere who is going to do his best in order to maintain his second position in the provisional classification.

At takeoff, Franck Matelli swooshes off and takes the command of the race. Behind him, everyone tries to place himself as best as possible … but near the Nürburgring corner, destabilised by the vibrator, Jean-Baptiste Lahaye diverts his trajectory and his wheels link themselves into those of Paul Lanchere.

Unable to do anything, the two men exit the track violently. The single-seaters are severely damaged, the drivers are ok but their deception can be read on their faces especially on the face of Paul Lanchere who will have to leave Magny-Cours without any further points. The safety-car enters the track and many cars bear the scars of this crash, mainly that of Marie Baus-Coppens and Giada De Zen who have to go by the pits.

At restart, Franck Matelli maintains his top position but Stoffel Vandoorne is right behind him. In the following lap, he attacks at the Lycée. The two men are side by side followed by Mathieu Jaminet who is observing them, ready to seize the slightest opportunity. But the RACB National Team driver puts his foot down and distances himself from the others, helped by the fight over the second position. Franck Matelli, Mathieu Jaminet and Alexandre Mantovani have a man-to-man wrestle.

The order of this race will finally remain like this and Alexandre Mantovani now finds himself under the threat of Paul-Loup Chatin, he himself under pressure of Norman Nato. In 10th position, Alexandre Anezo tries as hard as he can to maintain Alexandre Jouannem-Sivan behind him, but has to give up the fight a few laps away from the finishing line. Not long afterwards, Alexandre Mantovani sees Chatin and Nato overtake him.

For the 4th time since the beginning of the season, Stoffel Vandoorne passes the finishing line as winner. Franck Matelli and Mathieu Jaminet climb onto the podium in this order. Paul-Loup Chatin forgets his recent mishaps with the points of 4th position. Having left in 12th position, Norman Nato closes the Top Five with the point of best lap in race in front of Alexandre Mantovani, Pierre Sancinéna, Tristan Papavoine, Nicolas De Moura and Sébastien Le Bras who is able to pocket points at the last minute. Within the girls, only Cécilia Asquini will have crossed the finishing line. For her very first race, this is comforting.
      


Stoffel Vandoorne : « It’s really amazing these two podiums in Magny-Cours, I hope this is going to continue! I really love driving this single-seater. Now, for the second part of the season, I am going to have to guarantee the points whilst continuing the fight – that is how you win a Championship and that is exactly what I am going to do! »

Franck Matelli : « My departure enabled me to take advantage but I had a lot of under-steering and my tires were not heated enough. Then, with the safety-car, Stoffel was able to overtake me. The fight for the second place was really tough but I wanted this place so much for the precious points. This weekend has given me confidence. »

Mathieu Jaminet : « I was able to manage the restart very well and, at all times, I was on Franck Matelli’s back. I was faster than him in the end but I was unable to overtake him. Nevertheless, this weekend will have been extra with two podiums making the difference in the general classification. »
 



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